Urgent - Medical Devices Price Control

I remember earlier this year many of us participated in localcircles polls and discussions on ensuring there is MRP and price control on some 20-30 medical devices where hospitals have historically been cheating patients by charging whatever they want.

After NPPA put in price ceilings on stent pricing, US manufacturers Abbott and Boston scientific have literally been threatening that they won't supply any of their latest stents to India.

We need to ensure the Commerce Minister and NPPA dont yield to these tactics. Last week NPPA has sought comments from these manufacturers which indicates they may revisit the price ceilings.

I am sharing this so members of these vigilant circles are alert and the issue is escalated before the industry has it their way and Govt reverts or limits the price control. more

Helpful Connected Consumers Nov 13

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Jyoti Dua

Let us not believe that prices of ANY product ( medical or others) can remain fixed for all the time. With changes in input cost of material and labour etc, the prices of product have to be revised. Why can not we set up manufacturing of such products in India under MAKE in INDIA? more

Nov 14

G. C. Mathur (Convenor-Trustee, Binty (A Voluntary Consumer Organisation), New Delhi)

NPPA must not be cowed down by any threats from these manufacturers of the mentioned medical devices and such others. They cannot charge consumers the "man-mani" prices. Free market does not mean that the capitalists alone have the voice. That is why we talk about the mixed economy that cares for the middle and lower middle income group. more

Nov 13

Adi Shankar Rao Perla

There is no point in blaming the suppliers. The practicing community is in hand in glove with them. Even the govt is able to control the prices the hospitals which are involved in the business will increase the procedural cost and hospitalization bills to compensate the loss in profit by the reduction in prices. This is because the using interventionist demands for each stent used for the patient a certain amount from the company in addition to the profit or cut he takes for each (cardiac) angiography or renal peripheral stent used. That is why the manufactures are reluctant to reduce the prices. It is a known fact that the practicing cardiologist takes money from the sponsoring companies regularly for patronising the supplier. more

Nov 13

Naganand Nileshwar (Consumer Activism)

The cardiologist escapes the IT net also. Ever heard a doctor, lawyer or a CA being caught hoarding money? If so please inform.
BUT the PM only exhorts by words not action during their annual functions. He feels nothing of the sort you have described happens in Bharat. Let him make all hospital/medical transactions through banks. Cash should not be seen in Hospitals/doctors. Will he or can he do that? more

Nov 14

Ranjit Biswas

It will be unfortunate if the government yield to the pressure from any quarter. It would be appreciable if the government arranges for manufacture of the stents and all other medical supplements indigenously. If this is done, the US manufacturers will certainly come under our terms under compulsion being India the largest market for them. more

Nov 13

Noufal Thaha

Why we should get a threat from foreign manufactures. Even if we get a threat from particular country, why don't we choose for another country. Rather our government should encourage domestic manufactures. more

Nov 13

Rajkaran Bhatti (Policy Influencer, Government of India)

Pharma companies of this size have funded 'World Wars' so one can imagine their impact.. United States, geo-politics are complex aspects.. Government deserves the credit for making earnest efforts to better the lives of Indians.. Such reactions are expected in such situations.. But citizens have faith in the Government that GOI will prevail over the pulls and pressures in the health sector, if need be India may accomodate in some other areas more

Nov 13

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